Turkey dropped from 2012 calendar

The calendar for the 2012 Formula 1 season has been reduced to 20 races, as the Turkish Grand Prix was formally dropped from the listings today.

The Istanbul Park track was finished in 2005, but has suffered poor attendance due to being located in the middle of nowhere.

Negotiations have been ongoing for months between the circuit organisers and Bernie Ecclestone, but financial difficulties forced the track into pulling out of F1.

The revised calndar was yesterday unanimously approved by the FIA World Motor Sport Council via fax vote.

In other changes to the calendar, there will now be 6 back-to-back races. The Australian Grand Prix keeps the season opener slot, but is still in doubt after 2015. The Bahrain Grand Prix will be the fourth race of the year, in mid-April.

The new United States Grand Prix is the penultimate round, with Interlagos in Brazil hosting the finale.

Also, on a slightly related note, the 2012 season now begins on my 18th birthday!